DAY 01: Board Flight to Colombo from Delhi @0020hrs. Colombo arrival at @0500hrs. Transfer to SIGIRYA. On the way visit to PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE in village Pinnawala of Kegalle distt. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1975 for feeding and providing care and sanctuary to orphaned baby elephants that were found in the wild.
SIGIRIYA is believed to be built by the king Ravana which he used as one of his castles. It says the frescos represent his many wives. It is believed that the plateau top was the site of Ravana’s majestic palace, made of solid gold and crafted by Kubera, the God of Wealth, around 50 centuries ago. One look at the site, and you would know how big an architectural feat this place must have been. With around 1000 stairs to the top, it used to have a lift for Ravana and his visitors to get to the top. Imagine this place with a lift that worked some 50 centuries ago. If you look closely towards the bottom of this rock plateau, you will find a number of caves. As believed, one of these caves is where Ravana imprisoned Sita, after abducting her. This story can very well be true for the cave walls have (still) brightly-colored paintings, depicting scenes from the age of Ramayana. Other than that, you will spot a number of women portraits, believed to be portraits of the many wives of Ravana. Check- in to the hotel, and relax for a while. Proceed to Sirigiya fort/ caves and DAMBULA ROCK CAVE TEMPLE. Evening stay in hotel after Dinner.
DAY 02: After Breakfast proceeds to MATALE SPICE GARDEN. Also visit Ritigala: during the war happened both Lord Rama & Lakshmana were found unconscious due to the wonds. In order to heal them Lord Hanuman was advised to bring some herbs from Himalaya but as he was unable to identify the correct herbs he decided to bring a whole piece out of Himalaya. While he was carrying that, some pieces of Himalaya have fallen in to 5 places in Sri Lanka & Ritigala is believed to be one such place where you can find rare & endemic species of herbs & it is identified as a strict nature reserve at present. • Pitawala pathana: This is a location with a very interesting geographical setting with unique grasslands & it is believed to be an area where Ravana used a lot during his era especially as a runaway to his aircraft called “Dandumonara” This is also called as ‘Ravanathenna’ and there is a square shaped damaged section which is known as the entrance to Ravana’s palace. Also, during the ancient times the villagers in Manigala have used the shadow of this rock to determine the time. Furthermore, there’s another belief that this is one of the places on earth where universal power is centered.
Evening Dinner and night stay at hotel in Kandy.
DAY 03: After Breakfast, proceed to Seetha Kotuwa: In the ancient cities of Lankapura which is ruled by Ravana, there was a beautiful palace surrounded by waterfalls & flower gardens which was done for queen Mandodari (Ravana’s wife). Once Ravana got hold of Sita he has kept her in this place till she’s been transferred to Ashoka Vatika & hence the place got her name. • Weragantota: This is believed to be the first place where Sitadevi was brought into King Ravana’s vimana in Lankapura. Evening visit to Kandy temple and local market. Night stay in Kandy hotel.
DAY 04: After breakfast, proceed to NUWARA ELIYA, Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The naturally landscaped Hakgala Botanical Gardens displays roses and tree ferns, and shelters monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colorful Hindu shrine, is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested Galway’s Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls and flycatchers.
Visit to some popular Ramayan places, Chariot path: It is believed that King Ravana took Sita devi to this place to show her the beauty of Lankapura. Up to this date nothing grows in this passage where they have walked except the grass. This falls on the route where Ravana was taking Sita from the capital of Lankapura to Ashoka Vatika which is known as a paradise on earth. • Sita’s Tear Pond: You can spot this on the way to the view point in Chariot path. This is been formed by the tears of Sita devi. Also you can spot the Sita flowers endemic to this area. • Shri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple: This is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman considering him as a deity. The temple is located in the city of Ramboda, which is believed to get its name from ‘Rampadai’ meaning Rama’s army. Hanuman has been searching for Sita devi in this area. Seetha Amman Temple: this temple is located at a place where Sita devi used to take baths during her stay in Ashoka Vatika. After few centuries few idols were found in this stream out of one representing Sita where it is believed that they are been worshipped for over centuries. • Ashoka Vatika: It was the location, where Sita, was held captive by Ravana, after the abduction, also because she refused to stay in Ravana’s palace, and preferred to stay under a Ashoka tree, it got this name. It was here that Ravana’s wife Mandodari came to meet Sita and also where Hanuman met her for the first time, and identified himself with the finger ring of Rama. Its present location is believed to be the Hakgala Botanical Garden, the area is known as Seetha Eliya, close to the city of Nuwara Eliya. The Garden is situated at the base of the Hakgala Rock forms, has Sita Pokuna, a barren area atop the Hakgala Rock Jungle, where Sita was supposedly held captive. Dinner and stay in hotel.
DAY 05: After breakfast, proceed to NEGOMBO, Kelaniya temple: Kelaniya is the place where King Veebeshana ruled after being crowned by Lakshmana. As Lord Rama was in exile for 14 years, could not take part in any coronation ceremony, and deputed his younger brother prince Lakshmana to crown Veebeshana. Today in this very place a Buddhist shrine and a temple for King Veebeshana exist. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of King Veebeshana. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river. • Munneshwaram temple: When returning to India, Rama felt he was followed by a “Brahmahasti Dhosham”, a dark cloud capable of taking his life, as he had killed Ravana, a Brahamin. Rama felt safe from the “Brahmahasti Dhosham” at Munneswaram. This is the place Rama prayed to lord Shiva and where Shiva asked Rama to install four Lingams to get rid of the Dhosham. These four Lingams were installed at Manavari, Thiru Koheneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Ramaeshwaram in India. • Manavari Kovil: Manavari is believed to be the first place where lord Rama installed and prayed the Siva lingam after the war with king Ravana. To date this lingam is called as Ramalingam. This Lingam was made by Rama and therefore it is called Ramalingam. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in the world named after lord Rama. Dinner and night stay in COLOMBO.
DAY 06: After breakfast, proceed to COLOMBO CITY Tour, COLOMBO NATIONAL MUSEUM, BUDDHIST VIHAR, RUMASSILA, WAR MEMORIAL and city market. Evening drop to COLOMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to board flight to DELHI.
